CarComplaints.com Notes: Ford changed a lot of things for its 3rd generation, just none of them were a good idea.
The transmission tends to hesitate and jerk when accelerating. The new electronically-driven power steering can fail suddenly and without warning. Even Ford's SYNC can be a headache. Actually, scratch that last one — it's always been a headache.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
14 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
8 / 1
Average Mileage:
37,884 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
While driving at approximately 60 mph on a highway in the passing lane, the engine shut off without warning, and the following lights appeared on the dash: check engine, ABS, and traction control. The speedometer needle also went down to zero. I was in the process of passing a tractor trailer, and another tractor trailer was right behind me. I was barely able to maneuver off the highway onto the left shoulder and was almost rear-ended by the tractor trailer. The lack of power steering made it extremely difficult. This is a major safety issue. My family was in the car with me. After sitting on the side of the highway, I was able to start the engine and drive home. I arrived home and tried to back into my driveway, but it would not go into reverse. I took the car to the local Ford dealer and I was told the TCM needs to be replaced for around $750. I asked about the recall and they said that it expired in October of 2022. I did not know that recalls had an expiration date. After reading through many other complaints on the NHTSA website for the 2013 Focus, it seems that I have purchased a lemon. I just bought this vehicle in January at 57000 miles and have only put around 5000 miles on it. I still owe $9700 on the loan and the vehicle is undriveable. The manufacturer needs to buy this vehicle back so that I can purchase a replacement vehicle.
Driving on the highway car started to make a loud noise when I tried to accelerate I couldn-??t then I lost power, lucky I was near the breakdown lane. I pulled over no warning lights ever came on started up again put gear in drive and it wouldn-??t move only worked in reverse. I just found out that the control module was recalled last November but I was never contacted.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the contact became aware of a delay while shifting gear. The contact heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle; however, there was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic and the mechanic stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The dealer was contacted but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the warranty had expired and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 114,000
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle started sputtering and hesitating. The vehicle was repaired under an unknown recall. The contact stated that five times between 2016 and 2018, while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle sputtered and paused. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the contact was informed that the transmission control module needed to be replaced; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was 63,503.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle would not shift gear and would not accelerate as needed. The hill assist, and parking brake fault warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull over on the side on the road and waited for the vehicle to cool down. The vehicle was able to restart, and the contact was able to drive home. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnoses and the dealer stated that the TCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired since parts were not available. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 53,611.
- Pompano Beach, FL, USA
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Reoccurring shuttering and vibration from the automatic transmission when driving car. Specifically the issues occurs after transmission warms up. Most notable when shifting from 1-2 gear. Occasionally happens at higher speeds too.
I had my engine on in park and it stalled left me stranded and dashboard said engine fault service now when I tried starting the car it would turn over and I heard a bunch of clicking and the lights were flickering the dash and radio had no power and my wipers wouldn-??t go off. I had to abandon my car on someone-??s private property until I could get it towed they ended up calling the cops and gave me 48 hours to remove my car off there property. In my 2013 Ford Focus se I have experienced reduced engine power, hesitation, ENGINE STALLS while driving with NO WARNING Front and rear lights flicker and dim random spikes in voltage and inconsistent start-up issues like sometimes the vehicle does not start when turning the ignition on and car suddenly starts or idles down unexpectedly and stutters/lurches when driving. Also sometimes my radio fails to have power. I have replaced relay fuses starter fuses purge valve bought a new battery bought a new alternator I changed o2 sensors spark plugs filters etc I took it to Fred Martin Ford and they advised me they found intermittent communication failure between PCM and TCM. Performed wire trace on harness found harness frayed that runs along transmission unit. There are wiring harness recalls on Certain 2013 and 2014 Model Year Focus ST and Escape Vehicles Equipped with a 2.0L Engine Engine Wiring Splice Repair Safety Recall 14S17 My 2013 Ford Focus SE 2.0L Engine does not fall under this recall how come? There are several other customers having the same wiring harness issues.
I've had several recalls due to the transmission/clutch issues. MY clutch has gone out AGAIN and as I merged onto the freeway last Nov I was almost wiped out by a semi as my car didn't speed ahead but shuddered and juddered before it finally decided to speed up. It's at the shop AGAIN to replace the clutch, for $2900! I make less than 50k a year and this is a steep price for a lemon of a car that Ford KNEW was having issues. What to they make these clutches out of" Paper mache" This is the 3rd!!! one.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while pulling out a parking space, the vehicle started to shake abnormally without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer replaced the transmission control module, but the failure continued. The dealer was contacted, and the dealer stated that the vehicle was not under warranty. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 55,000.
I've had issues with this vehicle for years. It hesitates when accelerating and occasionally stalls. The problem advanced to where it would no longer shift into drive. Took in for repairs as it is no longer drivable. It was difficult to find a place to evenwork on it. Finally found a place, $3200 later it's repaired with a new TCM. This is a known problem to ford. I'm a senior on a very limited fixed income, this was very difficult to pay for. The car only has 55,000 miles.
In 2017 a Ford mechanic shop accepted my 2013 automatic transmission Ford Focus Titanium due to a factory transmission recall. They paid to have the entire transmission replaced (supposedly), which at that time it was at about 70-78k miles. I haven-??t driven it over 59k miles at most since then. That-??s no less than 19k miles under from the time before. A local Ford dealer (Sam Galloway Ford in Fort Myers, Florida) informed me the issues are a bearing, the clutch and clutch actuator that need to be replaced, which costs about $3.7k with the diagnostic fee, which I shouldn-??t have to pay for due to the issues resulting from what Ford knew of years ago & the fact the -??fix-?? was like that off using a dirty band-aid that failed to provide conscious moral safety for me the owner/traveler via using it. Furthermore, the issues with it pose a tragic liability to other peoples-?? health & lives that have been threatened as well as my health wherein this dangerous vehicle insufferably delays with upshifting automatically, jerks & fails to accelerate in legal traffic that requires all travelers to go when the light is green of which I could have gotten ticketed for! Ford needs to make this financially right for me by covering the repairs or buy the vehicle from me of which I-??ve owned since about 33k miles near the end of 2015 (I-??m the 2nd car owner).
Transmission Control Module (TCM) The transmission Is a known problem to Ford. Auto shops won-??t even look at the vehicle because it-??s an unfixable problem. Ford dealers have no answer other then replace TCM and maybe you-??ll get some more miles out of the car, but of course the part is backordered, over 77,000 cars waiting, and no idea when part will be available. Car is totally unreliable. Shifts gears inconsistently, at times won-??t go into Drive, often times vehicle won-??t even start. All I can do with it now is to leave it sit parked and not use it. Extremely disappointing that Ford has known of this issue for years and not fixed it or put a buyback into place.
Transmission, there is a recall on the computer mounted outside the trans, we were never told there was a recall on it. Started making a loud noise and had trouble going onto reverse. Made appt. to take to dealer and day before went to fuel up and trans. went. AA A towed it to dealer and were told clutches in trans were computer controlled and were bad. Given estimate of $8000. to replace. Check complaints on this model and from 2011 and on there is a major transmission problem It should have a recall on the entire trans. My husband is 83 and fortunately he was stopped when this happened. Had he been driving it would have been bad.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving 50-55 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact then refilled the fuel tank, however, he noticed that there was a significant amount of pressure coming out of the fuel tank. The contact was able to continue driving. Additionally, the contact stated that the fuel gauge frequently provided inaccurate reading and would indicate that there was approximately 100 miles left of fuel while the fuel tank was empty. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank had expanded and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer who provided the same diagnostic information. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V515000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the dealer had only reprogrammed the PCM. The dealer informed the contact that the fuel tank could not be replaced under the recall since the recall was marked as completed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle under NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V515000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) as the fuel tank was in good condition at the time the recall repair was completed on the vehicle a year and half prior. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
At approx 01-05-2023 while driving at a speed of 30 to 35 mph Transmission quit with no notice. Dealer says it needs a total rebuild with a cost of approx $3500 to $3900 The dealer or Ford refuses to make things right with me. Ford told me to make payment arrangements with the dealer and suck it up. I still have a loan on car for approx $7100. Car is currently disabled and is parked for good.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while her daughter was reversing to park the vehicle, the vehicle lunged forward. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver shifted back into reverse and was able to park the vehicle. The contact stated she had also experienced the failure while driving the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the actuator assembly, the clutch assembly, the cylinder assembly, the levels, and the seals to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,684.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle hesitated to respond and started shuddering. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact released the accelerator pedal and slowly depressed the pedal until the vehicle responded as needed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the transmission clutch assembly, oil seal assembly, transmission fluid and lubricant were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred while driving three years later. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where the same repairs were completed; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the transmission was slipping. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle would fail to respond while attempting to drive from a complete stop or while shifting into gear. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the transmission clutch and the transmission control module (TCM) were replaced twice by the dealer; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission clutch needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Focus. The contact stated the vehicle stalled after the initial start-up, causing the contact to release and then depress the accelerator pedal for the transmission to properly select the desired gear while accelerating. Additionally, while accelerating uphill, the vehicle was jerking until driving on a flat surface. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer and the clutch assembly was replaced. The failure reoccurred and the contact returned the vehicle to the dealer where the transmission and clutch were replaced; however, the failure recurred, and the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
Loss of power when engaged, transmission slips to lower gear causing u to slow down and will not engage back in to drive then jerks when gas is applied. I have eluded several accidents and cause others to swerve to miss me. Check engine light is on. When taken in to dealer they have changed the TCM 3 or 4 times but is still doing the same thing.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Tunkhannock, PA, USA